Rosarito Beach mayor, in wake of drug-related violence, makes case for tourism

Rosarito Beach has long been known for its surfing, fishing, ATV and horseback riding; its many curbside restaurants and bars—and their free-flowing music, tequila and beer.

More often these days, though, the once flourishing tourist destination, 20 minutes from the U.S. border, is associated with violent fighting between drug factions.

Though the savagery has not been directed at tourists, ex-pat residents or ordinary Mexican citizens, the perceived danger of being shot has caused many to strike Rosarito Beach from their list of vacation spots.

To be sure, Rosarito Beach has been a hot topic on the Outposts comment board, so today I’ll revisit the issue merely by sharing some of what the town's mayor, Hugo Torres, told me during lunch last week at the Rosarito Beach Hotel:

--Drug-related violence in northern Baja California began to escalate after the arrest in 2006 of the leader of the Arellano-Felix cartel. Since then, there has been fragmented leadership and relentless warring between factions wanting to dominate the flow of drugs into the United States.

Torres said, "I think we’re seeing the end of this fighting among themselves because I don’t think there are very many left of these head men. In the meantime, we're trying to apprehend the killers."

--Torres claims to have rooted out the city's police force of corrupt cops and has instituted an intense screening process that involves lie-detectors and looks for changes in spending habits and lifestyle changes. He has bolstered the force, created an English-speaking unit, and developed a neighborhood watch program.

--Torres said it has not been easy. When he took office 13 months ago, "People told me they wanted to be chief of police and that they would do the job for nothing" because they'd be well-paid by drug leaders. "Of course that was completely out of the question."

--Torres has increased pay for city police, from 9,000 pesos a month to 12,000 pesos, plus a two-month bonus at the end of the year. That was roughly $14,000 a year, which is considered decent pay in Mexico, before the recent devaluation of the peso delivered a setback. Torres is trying to push forward another pay increase.

--Torres acknowledges that some citizens have turned to drug dealing in and around town. He has put a former Mexican Army official in charge of fighting the drug war locally, and has launched a campaign using priests and ministers to spread the message that this is a sinful and perilous path.

--How bad is business? It fluctuates but has been down as much as 70% compared to what it was a few years ago.

--Has the mayor's life been threatened? Yes, when he first took office. "I'm concerned but I'm not afraid," said Torres, who owns the Rosarito Beach Hotel. "I decided to come into this job knowing that there was a problem with the police. Fortunately, we were able to turn that around and now we control the police and the police obey the city."

--Lastly, are tourists safe? Torres says they are if they exercise the same common sense the exercise when visiting any city on either side of the border. The should stay within the tourist zones and not venture into the outskirts or to remote areas after nightfall.

"If you were in Las Vegas," the mayor said, "you would not go to the end of town at 3 a.m., because you'd be asking for trouble. It's the same here."

--Pete Thomas

Photos by Pete Thomas/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Arthur Gore]

Rosarito is very safe as for a Tourist or even citizens, I just bought a house there and is safe and secure investment even for foreigners.
Great place only 3 hrs. away from LA
Away from the world, close to home.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Thank you for a well-written, positive article regarding life for Americans in Northern Baja....between the nice people, the weather, golf and tennis, the OCEAN, the shopping, the overall culture, the much lower cost-of-living, and the lack of fear unless you're stupid and go late at night to some deserted or dangerous place (like in the U.S.), this is a marvelous place to live. Thank you...muchisimas gracias!

[ABC123]

Like anywhere, use common sense .. I have been in and out of Rosarito for years.. It is still a great place..

[Sacred Indio]

Other LA Times article that allows Torres an opportunity to tell us that Rosarito is safe. Rosarito is not safe and most tourist are smart to stay away. Mr. Torres does nothing for the infrastructure. The problem is not if you will be a victim of crime but the fact that there is no recourse if you are a victim. Last month I was a victim in a DUI case where a vehicle crashed into the back of my vehicle. I had to go to the local red cross only to discover that they could not perform an x-ray because the 1967 xray machine was not working....Yes 1967 and that was the only one they have at the Red Cross. The following day I went to the police station to get a report about the accident for my insurance. I waited 1.5 hours until a police officier finally asked me to leave because there was nothing I could do to the person who hit me. Fix your own car...and to forget about getting a report.
Mr. Torres fix your city infrastructure... Americans beware cause if something does happen you, you will not have anything to fall back on and your experience, money, items, life will not be guaranteed.

On another rant. Mr. Torres, I do not think you understand that Americans need only two things from a vacation destination. Only two: CLEANLINESS and SAFETY. I would spend my vacation money in IRAQ if it was Clean and Safe. I would spend my vacation in Rosarito if It was CLEAN and SAFE.

Your city is dirty and your beaches are the worst. If you want to step in horse dung, and walk on broken glass bottles, or smell the scent of urine then I would surely pick Rosarito Beach (in particular near Papa's).

Lastly, your new hotel is beautiful and your plans to create your pier as a fishing destination is marvelous but the problem is all around you. Look around the rest of your Mexico is not safe. It is time to give back to the rest of your community and Americans will return once it is SAFE and CLEAN.

God bless Mexico and VIVA USA!

Mucho Love,

[Gernot Trolf]

Finally some true and positive reports in the LA Times instead of just ripping into "how bad it is in Baja.
I have been living in Baja with my wife for about 3 years and have seen the tourism and real estate decline due to the mostly "screaming" headlines in the U.S. media.
Did you know that we here in the U.S. have a larger crime rate in St. Louis and Detroit than in Baja?
How true it is when Mayor Torres says to use the same common sense as in any U.S.city one visits.

[James]

Well mucho love on Jan. 14th...are you wrong. I live here full-time in Rosarito Beach. I love this town and all of its people. I especially like and respect Hugo Torres for the amazing job he has done in cleaning up our police force and making Rosarito a lot safer and, yes, cleaner town. So, come on down and be safe in our clean city and enjoy all that Rosarito has to offer. And if you really want enjoy our city in a safe and very comfortable environment buy a condo or home from me.....incredible prices prevail for oceanfront and ocean view properties and just 20 miles south of San Diego. You are missing the warmth of the people and the fun we offer and in a very safe tourist area.
Please look in your own back yard at the unbelievable amount of thefts, rapes and murders too. It is not a safe place to be. Come down and enjoy life with me and many more ex-pats.

I look forward to seeing you soon,

James

[BeSafe]

Mexico is NOT a safe country to visit period. To learn more go to:
WWW.MEXICOVACATIONAWARENESS.COM

[Sacred Indio]

At James,

How do you know I don't own in Rosarito? I've been living here for years. AND I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT SAFE OR CLEAN.

Mexico is a third world country. Why are your real estate prices so high? Why, because you claim 20 miles from the USA - NO THANK YOU.

Why doesn't your website mention the typical 2-3 hour wait at the border?

You are in a third world country with a Red Cross hospital that has a 1967 xray machine,. With police officers who make 14k a year and have a six grade education (The last time i made 14k was during a part-time job I held while in High School). With no 2nd Amendment right to protect yourself. With a minimum salary of 50 pesos or 5 dollars a day.

I think you live in Mexico because you like to feel rich among all of those poor people.

ROSARITO IS NOT SAFE and IT IS NOT CLEAN.

Mucho Love,

Sacred Indio

[Tio Foncho]

Gee whiz, if Rosarito is so safe, how come the Marines at Camp Pendleton are under orders to not go there unless they get signed permission from an officer with the rank of Lt. Colonel or higher and first go through special training?

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/15/military-personnel-must-get-permission-mexico/?zIndex=37667

[LF]

As a person who has travelled all over the world and lived in Southern California as well as other metropolitan areas of the USA I can say unequivocally that ROSARITO IS SAFE for tourists. In my business I spend a lot of time in Rosarito with my family every month and have done so for many years. We drive up and down the coast every day in a nice BMW, cross the border frequently and spend a lot of time in the restaurants, spas, and beach resorts. Like Southern California some of the beachs are littered (many times by americans) but most of the private resort beaches are clean as are many of the public beachs.

Do we go to east TJ at 4:00 AM? Do we get involved in drugs or prostitution? Of course not and maybe this is why we NEVER HAVE ANY PROBLEMS.

TO Address the comments of SACRED INDIO above
There is an infomation issue for tourists and this is being addressed by Mr. Torres office. Clear infomational signs have been installed. Sidewalks and roads have been widened and improved. A new emergency hospital has been built in a central location. By the way there are several excellent private hospitals in Rosarito that US insurance (as well as you mexican auto policy) will recognize. There is no need to go to Cruz Roja unless you have no insurance or money to cover the bills. Would you go to the free clinic if you had been in an accident in the US? Cruz Roja is run on donations. What were you doing there?

if you go to the baja vacation rentals website at http://www.baja-rentals.com/bajasafety.htm there is great information regarding emergency phone numbers and safety procedures. I suggest you print it out before ever comming down again.

Thanks again for a fair and unbiased artical about Baja!

[Scared Indio]

What makes you think that I don't live in Mexico? What gives you the impression that I don't have a vested interested in seeing our tourism population return and/or grow? What gives you the impression that I don't approve what Mr. Torres is trying to do?

The problem is that Mr. Torres considers only the tourist while the rest of his town falls apart. An Example, what happen in Rosarito during last months rains? Complete shut down of the city...

Do you think that this is an issue that would make tourism return and spend their money here?

Mr. Torres only focuses on his patch of land while neglecting the rest of the city, which as a tourist I still have to travel through. Rosarito is greater than his piece of land, and the rest IS NOT SAFE or CLEAN.

At LF, your comment about Insurance and going to a "free clinic" is ridiculous.

There are over 40 million Americans without health insurance in the USA, are you suggesting that they all "should not come to Baja", because if something were to happen to them they would end up at the Cruz Roja with it's 1967 xray machine?

I bet Mr. Torres would get 1000x the publicity if he called one of his high powered friends and donated a newer xray machine and supplies to the local Cruz Roja...Because this is where the locals end up and some of his most valuable assets American Tourist.

Also for those of you who are coming into town. Please bring your working used household items, clothing, old pc's and other stuff to the Cruz Roja (located behind Waldos along the main street of Rosarito). The items you donate will be resold and the funds are used to help run the local hospital needs of our great City of Rosarito. And if you have an newer xray machine for sale or to donate, please contact them directly.

http://www.cruzrojarosarito.org/

Americans need two things to spend there vacation money at a certain location: CLEANLINESS AND SAFETY.

Mucho love,

Sacred Indio

God Bless Mexico and VIVA USA.

[nacho]

'There are some post and comments here that are SPAM. Why should SPAMERS have to talk Rosarito up for? who in the world has not been Rosarito? the spam and comments left here indicate that there is really something wrong. Who here has not got sick from eating tacos on the BLVD. Who here is not affraid of the Mexican Government? Rosarito is still the same place. Why did Disney cancel having there movie filmed in R.B? When we were in OXXO a masked gun man walked in and robed the clerk and left. Give a break man,and when spammers leave comments to skew and to sway current conditions for there own personal gain is disgusting. The Truth of the matter most people in Baja Norte is scared as Heck. All one has to do is ask Mr. Torres or any other Public Official about there own personal safety and that answer your question.